PITTSBURGH -- Hanley Ramirez’s infected right hand kept him out of the Marlins’ starting lineup for the second consecutive game.

Ramirez told reporters Saturday that his status is “day-to-day.”

Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen used a different term to describe the timetable for his return from the injury that stemmed from his punching a cooling fan July 8 during a game in St. Louis.

“Hanley’s not day-to-day,” Guillen said. “It’s more like two days-by-two days. His hand is a little bit better [Saturday], but just a little bit. I don’t see that much difference between [Friday and Saturday].”

Guillen said it would be a “miracle” if Ramirez returned for Sunday’s series finale against the Pirates, and said a return during the team’s upcoming six-game homestand is “optimistic.”

“I don’t know [when he’ll be back],” Guillen said. “I know he still can’t grab a bat. They have to go by the doctors and trainers, and see how he feels. The infection seems like it’s pretty strong. We’ve got to play [it] by ear. If you want to, call it day-to-day, but to me it’s ‘check every two days.’ Maybe we can have him pinch run, but that’s it.”

Ramirez pinch ran Friday in the ninth inning and stole a base. On Saturday afternoon, he kept his hands tucked away in a sweatshirt he wore in the team clubhouse.

“I’m just waiting for the swelling to go down,” Ramirez said. “I have probably about 50-to-60-percent use. I can still move my fingers. I just can’t grab the ball or the bat. Once I can do those things, I’ll be back.”

Guillen said Friday he heard the infection was caused by Ramirez not properly taking his medication for the original injury. Ramirez said Saturday he forgot to take it on only one day.

“[The infection] happened overnight,” Ramirez said. “It was pretty bad. I had pain, and it kept swelling up. I’m taking the same pills. I think I got an alarm now every time so I don’t forget.”

Said Guillen: “Hanley’s a grown man. He should know how to do that, but he didn’t. And now it’s too late. Now, hopefully he will from now on.

“But I think the problem started in St. Louis when he did what he did. Players don’t realize it until after the fact. When [something like] that happens, you are hurting the ball club, not just yourself, and that’s what we’re dealing with right now.”

It’s dobbs again

Greg Dobbs started for Ramirez again at third base and hit sixth again in the lineup. The versatile Dobbs, who has five different gloves ready for the many positions he can play, went 1 for 4 on Friday night.

Guillen said the only difference at third base right now is name value.

“Dobbs is hitting .290,” Guillen said. “I miss the name [Hanley]. But I think Dobbs is handling it pretty well. I think Hanley is a better third baseman than Dobbs. In the past, Hanley’s been a superstar. When you have a name like Hanley in the lineup, it helps, but Dobbs has been handling it well.”

•  Donovan Solano continued to show his value in a pinch-hitting role Friday night.

Solano, 24, came up with his sixth pinch hit of the season in 11 such at-bats. He was 2 for 2 as a pinch hitter on the road trip through Friday.

“I don’t put too much pressure on myself and just have fun every at-bat,” said Solano, who came into Friday’s game hitting .327 in 52 overall at-bats this season. “In the fifth inning, I start preparing my mind for whatever situation I will go into and just try to make it simple.”

COMING UP

•  Sunday: Marlins RHP Anibal Sanchez (5-6, 3.95 ERA) at Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jeff Karstens (2-2, 4.15), 1:35 p.m., PNC Park.

•  Monday: Marlins RHP Josh Johnson (5-7, 4.35) vs. Atlanta Braves (TBA), 7:10 p.m., Marlins Park.

•  Scouting report: Sanchez, who has been mentioned in trade talks, will make his fourth consecutive road start after a victory at Wrigley Field.